Big Idea: Observation and description of changes in the world around us are the first steps in discovering and learning about patterns.

Essential Question: What are some of the variables around us?

Eva van Veen
22-08-08
Block B
Day 4

Mathematical Reflections 1:

1. In this investigation, you conducted a jumping jack experiment, collected data in a table, and made a coordinate graph of the data. Your table and graph showed the relationship between two variables. What were the two variables? How did one variable affect the other?
The 2 variables in the jumping jack experiment we conducted were time (seconds) and the number of jumping jacks done per 10 seconds. Time affected the number of jumping jacks done, because as time went on, you performed more jacks and either slowed down, sped up or kept the same pace.

2a. Name some things in the world around you that vary and than can be measured or counted. Name two variables that you think are related.
Some things that vary in the world around us and that can be counted or measured are: Time, temperature, age, height, weight, tides, and distance. I think that age and height are related.

b. Explain how you could make a graph to show the relationship between the two related variables from part a. How would you decide which variable should be on the x-axis and which should be on the y-axis?
I would make a coordinate graph showing age on the x-axis because it’s an independent variable and height on the y-axis because it is a dependent variable. The pattern I would put on the graph would show that people have a growth spurt at 0-5 years old, and then again at 11-16 years old. Also, that everyone stops growing after they hit a certain age, and that we sometimes shrink a bit towards the end. So that would mean my pattern is a bit like a bow, curving round.